Project Communications Officer

The University of Oxford is a stimulating work environment, which enjoys an international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence. Our research plays a key role in tackling many global challenges, from reducing our carbon emissions to developing vaccines during a pandemic.

Department

Close the Gap is an equal partnership between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and is one of several initiatives that support access and widening participation in graduate admissions at the University of Oxford. It is one of thirteen projects partially funded by the Office for Students and Research England, and other contributors, to improve access to doctoral study for UK Black, Asian and minority ethnic students. The project aims to transform doctoral student selection to develop a socially just and inclusive environment for world leading research and is based in the University’s Department for Graduate Admissions and Recruitment (GAR).

Communications play an important operational role within the project, both in terms of raising awareness and supporting organisational change within the Universities, and in sharing good practice and communicating project achievements externally across the Higher Education Sector.  

For more details, see the Close the Gap website: https://www.closethegap.ox.ac.uk/home.  

The role of part-time, fixed-term Project Communications Officer has been created by GAR to provide creative communications support to the Close the Gap project across a range of media, as it enters the second half of its delivery timeframe.  

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

•               An excellent contributory pension scheme

•               38 days annual leave

•               A comprehensive range of childcare services

•               Family leave schemes

•               Cycle loan scheme

•               Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

•               Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs

This role also offers the opportunity for hybrid working.

About the Role

The role of part-time, fixed-term Project Communications Officer has been created by Graduate Admissions and Recruitment to provide creative communications support to the Close the Gap project, as it enters the second half of its delivery timeframe.  Close the Gap is a joint partnership with the University of Cambridge and is one of thirteen projects partially funded by the Office for Students and Research England, and other contributors, to improve access to doctoral study for UK Black, Asian and minority ethnic students. For more details, see the Close the Gap website: https://www.closethegap.ox.ac.uk/home.  

Communications play an important operational role within the project, both in terms of raising awareness and supporting organisational change within the Universities, and in sharing good practice and communicating project achievements externally across the Higher Education Sector. The role will include, amongst other tasks: further developing and professionally delivering aspects of the project’s communication and dissemination strategy and action plan; writing, editing and / or proofreading a range of communications materials; planning and organising events; identifying and engaging with a range of stakeholders and audiences; developing and updating online communications for the project, including the website and (if developed) social media channels; delivering communications training and advice sessions to subject matter experts in the project; ensuring that departmental communications follow the University and project funder guidelines on branding; and being an active member of the University’s Communication Officers network and/or other relevant networks/groups in order to share information and promote best practice.

The post-holder will work with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and partners (including academics, students, departments, colleges and external consultants).   

About You

You will be educated to degree level, or with equivalent professional experience and have extensive communications experience in print, audio-visual and digital media, as well as in producing effective web content. You will have excellent writing skills and attention to detail, and with a proven ability to communicate complex concepts to a non-specialist audience.

With excellent interpersonal skills, including diplomacy and the ability to inspire the confidence of senior colleagues, you will also be comfortable working independently in a complex environment, taking initiative when necessary and prioritising effectively to meet deadlines. The role will also require good knowledge of key aspects of web management including writing for the web, usability, accessibility, search optimisation, copyright and a general understanding of content management and HTML, and with experience of evaluating the impact of communication methods and adapting practice in line with evaluation outcomes.

Given the focus of Close the Gap, you will also have a strong interest in working in the access and widening participation agenda in postgraduate education.  

Application Process

You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Thursday 29 February 2024.

Interviews are expected to take place during week commencing 4 March and will be face to face or online.